Respirator



July 18, 1939.

W. H. LEHMBERG RESPIRATOR Filed April 1, 1937 I. I N Ill/Illf/ll/A I lgJY INVENTOR W/u. mm H LEHMBEEG W ZX S TORNEY Patented July 18, 1939 UNITED STATES 3 nnsrmaron William H. Lehmberg, Sturbridge, m, assignor to American Optical Company,

South- -bridge, Mass, a voluntary association of Massaf chusctts Application April 1, 1937, Serial No. 134,318

3 Claims.

This invention relates 'to improvements in respirators of the type which have a face piece formed with a portion engaging the face about the nose and mouth of the wearer and has particular reference to improved means and method of making the same.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a respirator having a face piece or mask formed with a face engaging portion which is shaped to fit the general contour of the face of different individuals and which has means adjacent said face engaging portion which is self adjusting and fitting to irregularities in said general contours to provide a comfortable and intimate fit with a minimum of pressure of the face piece on the face.

Another object of the invention is to provide a face engaging portion which throughout the part thereof shaped to fit over the nose is provided with means which is self adjusting to irregularities in the sizes and contours of thenose,

' intimate fit and positive seal throughout the face engaging portion.

Another object is to provide a flexible type face piece or mask with a face engaging portion which is of such a character that the give of the face piece, due to the resiliency thereof, produces a more intimate and positive fit of the face engaging portion with the face.

Another object is to provide improved means and method of forming a face piece or mask which throughout the nose and chin engaging portions thereof will have a flexible cushidn surface contact with'the face and throughout the cheek engaging portions thereof will have a combined flexible edge and surface cushion contact.

Another object is to provide a face piece of the above character with means which due to its tendency to return toits initial set when flexed or displaced will aid in maintaining the face piece or mask in intimate and comfortable contact with the face. 7

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing and it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement of parts and method shown and described without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction, arrangement of parts and method shown and described as the preferred form only has been shown by way of illustration.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure I is a perspective view of the device-embodying the invention;

Fig. II is an elevation of the face engaging side of the face piece;

Fig. III is a sectional view taken as on line IIIIII of Fig. II and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. IV is a sectional view taken approximately on line IVIVof Fig. 111; and

Fig. V is a fragmentary diagrammatic view illustrating the function of the cheek engaging portions of the face piece or mask.

One of the major problems and difiiculties encountered in the past in forming respirators of the type which are adapted to engage the face of the wearer about the nose and mouth was to obtain a face piece which would fit the general contour of the face of different individuals with slight pressure on the face and yet insure protection against possible leakage throughout, saidface piece.

In most instances in the past, an intimate fit could not be obtained without excessive Pressure on the face, particularly if the face was very irregular. The result, therefore, was that such respirators were exceptionally uncomfortable and in many instances impractical for use. When an attempt was made to reduce, the pressure on the face piece'and to thereby obtain a more comfortable fit, difliculty was again encountered in leakage which took place throughout the face piece during use. Such respirators were also undesirable because great care had to betaken in adjusting and testing the fit of the face piece prior to actual use so as to aid in protecting the wearer against such leakage. In many instances in the past; this leakage could not be avoided, particularly if the features of an individual were exceptionally irregular.

It, therefore, is one of the prime objects of this invention to overcome the above difficulties by providing a respirator with a face engaging portion which is shaped to the general contour of the face of different individuals and which has means adjacent said face engaging portion which is self fitting to the slight differences and irregularities in the facial contour of such individuals to provide an intimate and comfortable cushion contact seal with the face requiring a minimum amount of pressure of the face piece on the face and which will be substantially self seating and sealing in its action when the respirator is on the face.

Referring more particularly to the drawing wherein like characters of reference designate like parts throughout the several views, the device embodying the invention, as shown in Fig. I,

comprises a face piece or mask I preferably molded of rubber or other non-corrosive flexible or resilient material having an edge 2 shaped to the .general contour of the face of different individuals and having an integral flange portion 3 .to whicha filter unit] is detachably connected.

The face engaging .portion I is provided'with a portion 8 adapted .to surround the wearer's nose, side portions 9 for engaging the cheeks and a lower portion III for engaging the chin of thewearer. The portion 8 is provided with an integral resilient inturned lip or flange portion II part 8 of the face piece I.

adapted to have surface contact throughout the face I2 with the nose of the wearer.

I3 between the lip II and outer wall of the face piece I provides meanswhereby the portion I I may roll inwardly to fit itself to noses of differ- .ent sizes and of varying contour shapes. This function takes place without materially displacing the outer main wall of the face piece I and with exerting only a sufficient pressure on the nose to insure an intimate and sealed contact therewith. The m-tumed lip II continues throughout the side portions 9 and the lower chin engaging portion I0, but, throughout the side portions 9, as shown in Fig. IV, are supported by angularly deflected portions I4 with the anchored edge:

thereof lying outside of the plane of the side walls of the face piece i.

The portions Il are each providedwith an upstanding ridge. I5 having an edge I6 adaptedfto engage the cheeks of the wearer and also to provide reinforcement throughout the sides of the edge 2. I.

The function of this construction is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. V. When the edge I6 is pressed into engagement with' the face of the wearer as indicated by the line II,.the portion I5 is deflected outwardly about an effective fulcrum point III. This causes' the face I2 of the member II to roll outwardly to engage the face of thewearer. It is apparent that the portion I6 will provide an edge contact with the face while the portion II has a surface contact with the face, the pressure of the portion II on the face being relieved by the space I3 which permits the member II to roll inwardly when pressure is exerted on the face I2. The edge portion I6 will, therefore, have edge contact with the face with the pressure thereof eased off through the resiliency of the part I5 and the angularly deflected portion I4. The portion It will have surface contact with the face with the pressure thereof eased off by the'resiliency of said portion and by its rolling contact function when fitting itself to the irregularities in the contour of the face. This construction provides a double seal arrangement which is exceptionally comfortable and which requires very slight pressure on the face.

The portion II as shown in Fig. III extends throughout the lower portion I 0 andfunetions throughout said lower portion in a manner similar' to the portion thereof surrounding the nasal The lower portion IQ is provided with a beaded edge to increase the The space rigidity thereof andis adaptedlto cooperate with the portions I5 which in addition to their face engaging function also act as reinforcing or brace means throughout the sides of the facepiece I to aid in maintaining the sides of the portion 8 in engagement with the nose.

This function is brought about by the tendency of the portions I5 when spread adjacent the ends I9 which blend into the nasal portion 8 to return to theirinitial set in a direction toward each other. The elasticity of the portion II also aids in causing the face engaging parts to maintain a snug fit with the face of the wearer and its function responds to a relatively slight pressure of y the face piece onthe face of the wearer so that the said facepiece is exceedingly comfortable.

It is particularly pointed out that although all of the parts of the face piece, including the face contacting edge thereof, are formed integralof relatively flexible and resilient elastic-like material. Some of the parts of said face piece may be formed separately if desired. It is preferable, however, that the parts be all formed integral in a single molding or casting operation and that the material be such that when displaced-or deflected will tend to return to its initial set.

From the foregoingdescription it will be seen that simple, eflicient and economical means and method have been provided by which a positive .air seal cushion contact is provided throughout the face contacting portion of the face piece and which requires only a'slight pressure on the face to fit itself tothe irregularities of different facial contours so that an exceedingly comfortable and effective result is obtained-.[ Having described my invention, I claim:

, 1. A face piece comprising a cup-like member shaped to iit over the nose and mouth of an individual'and having a fiexibleface engaging por-.-

tion adapted to engage the nose, chin and sides of the face about the mouth, said flexible face engaging portion throughout the chin and nose engaging portions thereof having one face contact ing edge and being provided throughout the sides intermediate said chin and nose engaging portions with two face contacting edge portions, onetermediate the nose and chin portions and blending with said first face engaging portions at said points. -1

- 3. A face piece comprising a cup-like shaped to flt over the nose, mouth and portions of the face therebetween of an individual, having an opening therein and means adjacent said opening for'supporting a filter unit, and means therein for supporting valve means, and having aflexible face engaging portion adapted to engage the nose, chin and sides of.' the face about the mouth, and a second face engaging portion spaced outwardly of the first face engaging portion and extending there around from. points intermediate the nose and'chin portions and blending with said flrstface engaging portions at said points.

member 

